I'm NOT quitting! Angela Merkel insists she WILL remain German Chancellor until 2021
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has insisted she will not quit her post early, saying she intends to stay in power until the next federal election in 2021.
Merkel on coalition: We all have to make painful compromises
Mrs Merkel agreed a coalition deal with Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) last week, following months of tense negotations.
And the 63-year-old, who has been Chancellor since 2005, claimed she had no intention of stepping aside for a new leader yet.
She told TV channel ZDF: "I ran for a four-year term. I promised those four years and I'm someone who keeps promises. I totally stand behind that decision."
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader admitted she was forced to make "painful" concessions to the centre-left SPD.
Her decision to hand the role of Finance Minister to an SPD politician has sparked fury among Mrs Merkel's conservative supporters.
But she said her authority had not been damaged by the deal, saying it was an "acceptable" price to pay in order to govern.
It was a conscious decision, even though I knew it was painful
She explained: "I understand the disappointment. This is painful with the Minister of Finance.
“It was a conscious decision at a certain point to say: ‘Yes, we can do it this way,' even though I knew it was painful.
"But a Finance Minister can't just do what he wants.
"We agreed on a balanced budget, and European policy will be formulated jointly."
When asked whether she was lining up t a successor, Mrs Merkel said she would like to see a younger generation fill ministerial posts.
She said: "We need to show that we can start with a new team.
"We have six ministerial posts to fill and from my point of view we need to ensure that not only the over-60s are considered but also younger people."
“Now it’s about giving an opportunity to people whose political future is still ahead of them. We'll do everything possible to give these people a chance."